Building wall construction



Aug. 30, 1938. E 2,128,888

BUILDING WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 23, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 3O,1938. J. ROSE 2,128,886

BUILDING WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 23, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A T056 7:506 QMJ w 1 Patented Aug. 3i), 1938 UNITED" STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

The present invention relates to wall construction adapted for use in fireproof and non-fireproof buildings, and has special reference to a simple, ingenious integral furring construction for said walls.

Numerous proposals have hitherto been made for thefurring of masonry walls, butnone of these have been quite satisfactory from the standpoint of furring effectiveness, economy of construction, and efiiciency.

It is well known to provide a tilefurring in which hollow tile blocks are laid immediately ad jacent to the inside face of an exterior masonry wall, plaster being applied directly to the inside faces of the tile blocks, the latter varying in thickness from two to six inches (2' to 6"). It has been assumed that the interior spaces of the cellular blocks provided the desired waterproofing and insulating protection.

Another construction which hasv been used is what is known as split tile furring" in which tile such as set forth, are halved approximately longitudinally and placed against the inside face of the exterior masonry wall.

The above furring structures are ineffective to a substantial degree and in addition highly expensive. The cost of the tile blocks and the laying of the same involve substantial labor, and material costs, and further where the story height becomes large, it is necessary that the blocks be-tied into the masonry wall, thereby further increasing the expense of the furring construction. In addition, the effectiveness of this type of furring has often been questioned, since the block itself is almost sixty-six per cent (66%) solid and therefore can onlyoffer thirty-four per cent (34%) insulating protection.

It has also been proposed to provide what is known as free standing furring in which tile blocks of the character above set forth or substantially smaller, and usually of greater thickness, are laid free and clear 'ofthe inside face to the furring strips are secured the ordinary wood furring lath. This type of construction 'is probably one of the oldest and is used primarily in non-fireproof construction. An adaptation'of -this type of furring construction is the use of metal covered wood strips known as kalamein strips, the latter being appliedvertically against the inside face of the masonry wall, said kalamein strip having subsequently applied thereagainst either an expanded metal lath or a rigid plastering base of varying design and material.

. The types of construction above set forth, contrasted with the hereindescribed furring construction, are much more expensive, and further are of doubtful insulating value, as the subsequently applied plaster penetrates the spaces between the wood lath or the interstices of the metal lath and to a very substantial extent, practically fills the so-called furring space to thereby defeat the entirepurpose of the construction.

It has also been proposed to provide a furring construction utilizing especially designed concrete bricks, or a series of concrete bricks. This type of construction generally involves the use of two or three different types of concrete blocks within the same system and very often especially designed corner pieces. Further, the workmen in constructing the building must use rights and lefts, and this slows up, to some extent, the furring operation. In addition, the concrete blocks are not as a rule obtainable in all localities and must, therefore, frequently be shipped. The blocks are fragile and there is usually great loss and breakage due to shipment by truck or rail. In general, it maybe stated that the use of concrete blocks and the assembly of said blocks into a furring structure is an exceedingly expensive operation.

One important object of the. invention is to provide a novel and improved brick wall construction provided with furr'ing means constructed and arranged to carry the interior-finish formed by plaster, plaster board and the like, the Wall construction being such that the interior finish is supported in spaced relation to the body of the wall whereby to form an air space for insulation against differences in the temperature exterior to the building and that within the building.

A second important object of "the invention is to provide a novel brick wall construction wherein an improved arrangement of furring bricks for supporting the interior finish of a building in such manner as to prevent the access of moisture from the exterior of the'building to such finish.

A third important object of the to provide a novel wall construction having an improved furring arrangement directly supporting the interior finish of a building and constituting fire and vermin stops.

A fourth important object of the invention is to provide a novel wall construction having furring means for directly supporting the interior finish of a building and effectively constituting temperature and moisture insulation as well as fire and vermin stops, while adding but little to the normal thickness of a wall wherein the interior finish is directly applied to the inner face of such wall.

In the accompanying drawings like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a "so-called 8 wall as constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse section through such a Figure 3 is an enlarged detail section through a portion of such a wall and showing one form of means for securing the furring and interior-finish to the furring means or courses of such wall.

Figure 4 is a perspective of one modified form of furring course provided with connection means as employed in this invention.

Figure 5 is a transverse section through a wall Y employingthe furring course shown in Figure 2.

but with a different finish.

Figure 6 is a perspective of a fragmentary portion of a furring course having therein a modified connection means.

of a building showing the furring courses in rela-.

tion to 16 inch walls, 12 inch walls and 8 inch walls, such walls being either (1) solid brick; (2) face brick backed with'hollow tile; or (3) common brick faced with stone or terra cotta.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary transverse section through a wail showing a modified form of the invention employing a terracotta back-up tile provided with an integral projecting member adapted to form the furring ledge of the present invention.

In the construction of a wall in accordance with the present invention, the usual brick of approximately twoand one-quarter by three and threequarters by eight (2 x 3% x 8) inches in dimension are principally employed, but in addition to these, which are hereinafter termed standard" brick, certain special furring brick are employed.

' these special furring bricks equal in height and width to the standard brick, that is,-the furring bricks have end dimensions approximately two and one-quarter by three and three-quarters invention is (2V x 3%) inches. These furring bricks, however, are about three-quarters as long as a standand brick and are thus approximately six (6) inches in length.

It is to be understood, however, that the length,

' eight (8) inches, such wall being commonly known as an eight inch wall. The major portion of this wall is laid in the usual manner, having stretcher courses l0 composed of bricks laid lengthwise of the wall and header courses i i composed of bricks laid transversely of the wall. The wall is thus laid in what is known as English Bond. In an ordinary eight inch wall the stretcher courses consist of two rows of brick laid side by side, but in the present invention certain of the inside stretcher courses are supplanted at predetermined spaced intervals in the heighthof the wall with the hereindescribed furring brick l3 laid in header style. The furring brick i3 form what is herein termed furring courses. The outer ends of the furring bricks l3 lie adjacent to the inner faces of the stretchers i2, being separated therefrom only by the mortar Joint l4. Due to this arrangement, the inner ends l5 of the furring brick pro- .iect about two inches from the inner face of the main portion of the wall, the inner endsof all these furring brick being disposed in the same vertical plane. Thus at spaced intervals in the height of the wall the inner face of the wall is provided with a series of horizontal ledges.

As shown in these figures, each furring brick N has a vertical hole i6 adjacent its inner end and through certain of these holes extend wires II which serve, as shown in Figure 3, as ties for expanded metal lath it; or any other suitable iurring material functioning to form the ground or base for the usual plaster finish ii.

In Figure 10, there is shown a composite wall of various thicknesses illustrating alternative constructions coming within the spirit of the present invention. In the drawings, the lower portion 2! illustrates a sixteen inch (16") wall composed of four inch (4") stone or terra cotta facing having a twelve inch (12") brick back-up. Thereabove, there is illustrated a twelve inch (12) wall which may be built either of solid brick or may be built of four inch (4") face brick with what is known as an 8" hollow tile back-up, as for example, the hollow tile 22, which, of course. is merely illustrative of a suitable hollow tile. These tiles may be made in accordance with any of the prior art designs. Above the wall structure above described, there is shown an ordinary eight inch (8") wall.

The ordinary twelve inch (12") wall consists of three --(3) rows of brick extending longitudinally of the wall and header courses are provided every sixth course. In this construction, as previously set forth for an eight inch (8") wall, certain rows of the inside stretcher courses are replaced by special six inch (6") furring bricks ll projecting outwardly two inches (2") from the inner face of the wall to form, as before, vertically spaced continuous horizontal furring courses or ledges 23. It is, of course, obvious that the ledges may be spaced at vertically preeach furring course consists of standard normally laid brick, while the inner row of brick consists of the special furring brick having the width and I by the header course ll.

height of standard brick and a length substantially three-quarters the length of standard brick so that substantially two-thirds of each furring brick is embedded in the body of the wall. As previously indicated, the above dimensions of the furring brick are merely illustrative and not by way of limitation. The extent to which each of the vertically spaced continuous ledges project from the inner face of the wall may be varied as previously indicated.

' As modifications of the furring brick, it will be noted that the inner sides 28' of the brick 28 (Figure 4) may have complementary notches 29 forming holes for the tie wires, or the brick may be imperforate as shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8 at 30, the mortar 30' between adjacent bricks being perforated by a suitable instrument while the mortar is only partially set, as at M in Figure 6, or having a wire 32 embedded therein, as in Figures 7 and 8, while the mortar is setting.

Plaster board or'the like building board 33 may be secured to the furring brick by the wires 34, as in Figure 5, or the furring brick 35 of Figure 9 may have a recess 36 in its end and a wooden or other suitable plug 31 may be fitted ,1

therein to receive a nail 38 or the like driven through the board 33. I It is to be observed that it is preferable, as in Figure 10, that the lowermost furring course be located in spaced relation to the floor 39 to provide space 40 for a base ground wedging 30a adapted to have secured thereto a base ground 40b, or for running pipes, such as radiator pipes or the like, or wires.

Referring to Figure 10, for the purpose of illustration, it will be observed that there is a continuous mortar joint M which occurs in a wall of any thickness running generally forfive (5) courses and terminating at or adjacent a header course H. This mortar joint M, or its equivalent, it being recognized that the relationship of the stretcher and header courses themselves may somewhat vary, forms a natural channel through which water, which has found its way back of the first outside course through the brick or the joints therein, may run vertically downwardly until it strikes the header course Ii, which-in the preferable arrangement is immediately above the furring brick i3. As has been observed in practice, water may be drawn to the inside face of the wall by capillarity through the header course H and thereby show excessive dampness at these header courses.

Referring to Figure 10, a water absorbent material 20 is placed upon the furring ledge 23 formed by thefurring bricks E3, the water absorbing material 'or dam functioning to absorb excessive dampness that may be carried through the wall The dam 20 functions to stop the moisture from flowing inwardly over the furring bricks t3 and furring ledges 23 and reaching the plaster-finish 25. Preferably, the

noted that the furring ledge provides a natural stopping point for all drippings of mortar and.

also for the excess plaster which is forced through the plaster base, and some of this material will accumulate not only at the joint between the headers i3 and H, but also on the furring ledge,

and thereby provide a water absorbing material at a point where it is most needed. However, it

.is not necessary to rely upon the drippings of mortar and excess plaster to provide the dam at the joint between the headers of the furring ledge and the header immediately adjacent and,

therefore, a small amount of material is purposely applied at the joint to form the dam. While mortar, plaster or other cementitious materials may be used to provide a stop for and to absorb creeping moisture, it is within the province of the present invention to use any of the prior art materials which will function as a water absorbingmedium.

Referring to Figure 11, the wall has incorporated therein a. series of tiles 43 adjacent to the face brick t2, said tiles being provided with integral members at projecting from the inward face of the title wall. The inner ends of a series of these furring tiles are preferably disposed in the same vertical plane to form horizontally disposed furring ledges, the latter being at spaced intervals in the height of the wall. All of these tiles, or only certain ones thereof, may be provided with finish-securing-receiving means, which may be vertical holes 45 or the like, and tie body having furring ledges of the type described.

The prior disclosure set forth in connection with a furring ledge formed of furring bricks, such as bricks I 3, is applicable to the construction of furring ledges formed utilizing hollow terra cotta building tiles, herein designated terra cotta tiles". Any other equivalent tiles may, of course, be used.

In this form of the invention, there is provided a wall body having hollow tile building units laid in courses, certain of said courses being vertically spaced and constituting furring courses. Each furring course includes a continuous row of hollow tile building units, each unit thereof being provided with a lug or projecting member, preferably at its lower extremity,

but which may be located anywhere intermediate between the top and bottom faces of the tile, said lug projecting outwardly from the inner tile face of the body wall to form the furring ledges, the latter also acting simultaneously as a fire and vermin stop. The finish-securing means is carried by the ledges, and the interior-finish is held against the inner faces of the ledges and spans these spaces between the ledges.

While it is desirable to use furring bricks of the dimensions above set forth, the present in;

vention is not limited thereto. The important point is that the furring bricks should project beyond the face of the wall to form a furring ledge. Further, it is desired --to point out that the invention is not restricted to the formation of the furring ledges at the points shown. In otherwords, the furring ledges may be spaced five, six, seven, eight, nine, or any other number of courses apart. The actual spacing between the furring ledges is in a large measure regulated by the rigidity of the plastering base which is subsequently secured to thefurring ledge members.

While wires have been set forth as one of the preferred tie means, it is recognized that the tying means may be a more rigid 'material. For example, very rigid metal members may be inserted in the holes l6 and the tying wires, or

furring brick 35, the invention is not limited to a plug of this type. Obviously,-a plastic material may be substituted therefor, or even metal could be introduced into the hole, said metal being adapted for directly or indirectly securing a plaster base to the furring ledges.

It is desired to point out that the horizontal furring ledges formed by the headers l3 form a series of fire stops. In other words, these ledges break up into a series of longitudinal cells what could otherwise be a natural continuous vertical flue, favorable to the spread of fire current. These ledges also have the advantage of verminproofing, in the sense that the original entrance of vermin is almost impossible, but if vermin do enter, the movement of the vermin is confined between the successive ledges.

After the erection of the building wall, in accordance with the present invention, and the plastering base, such as a wire lath has been secured to the furring ledges, the wall may be damp-proofed by blown-on coatings of any damp-proofing material, to thereby provide an unbroken seal of damp-proofing material, which is not injured by the subsequent application of the lath.

It will be seen from the above that in accordance with the present invention, there is formed in a brick-like structure an integral support for supporting any of the various types of plaster bases away from the inner face of the main portion of the wall, to thereby form an insulating air space, a fire stop, a vermin stop, and a water-absorbing stop at the point where it is most needed.

In accordance with the present invention, a wall body is provided with substantially continuous furring ledges projecting from and extending across the inner face of the body wall, finishsecuring means being carried by the ledges. Interior-finish means are held by said finishsecuring means against the inner-faces of the ledges and span the spaces between the ledges. Broadly, applicant is the first, as far as he is aware, to provide a furring projection extending across the inner face of the body wall, said furring projection being substantially continuous.

' As far as the applicant is aware, all the furring projections that have been used have been primarily of a vertical type, and securing members have been attached to these vertical members for the purpose of securing lath or plaster board thereto. It is desired to point out that while in the drawings the furring ledge is a horizontal member, the present invention is not necessarily limited'to a horizontal furring projection. The

furring projection could extend at an angle across the inner face of the body wall and still accomplish the purpose of the present invention. It is recognized that the preferred structure is the horizontal furring ledge.

It is not necessary, in'accordance with the present invention, that each horizontal furring ledge be a continuous ledge. Only certain of the ledges need to be substantially continuous.

The structure herein set forth can also be modicontinuous furring ledge extending across the body wall comes within the spirit of the present invention. The term substantially continuous furring ledge as used in the claims is to be construed as one which performs the functions herein set forth and in a' substantial manner. In other words, it is recognized that the present invention may be carried out by omitting in any single ledge here and there a header, and such a ledge will function as a fire and vermin stop.

Instead of using 'a construction in which the furring units all terminate in the same plane, it is recognized that the furring ledge may be in the form of an arch or any other geometrical figure, so long as it performs the functions herein set forth.

It is especially to be understood that the term "brick as herein referred to, is not to be limited to brick made of burnt clay, but is to be understood as relating to rectangular bodies of like form to those described and made of any suitable material, whether ceramic, clay or other materials.

It is obvious that changes may be made in the form and construction of the invention without departing from the material principles herein set forth. It is not, therefore, desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described, but it is desired to include 1. In building wall construction, a wall body formed of brick-like building units laid in courses, certain of said courses being vertically spaced and constituting furring courses, each furring course including a substantially continuous row of headers having their inner ends projecting outwardly of the inner face of the body wall to form a furring ledge, simultaneously functioning as afire and vermin stop, said ledges each having a series of horizontally spaced vertical holes extending therethroughpmeans extending through said holes for securing an interior-finishing layer against the ledge, and an interior-finishing layer held against the ledge by said means.

2. In building wall construction, a wall body formed of brick-like building units laid in courses, certain of said courses being vertically spaced and constituting furring courses, each.

spaces between said ledges, said securing means comprising vertical holes formed between the inner ends of adjacent headers, and tie means extending through said holes.

3. In building wall construction, a wall body formed of brick-like building units laid in courses, certain of said courses being vertically spaced and constituting furring courses, each furring course including a substantially continuous row of headers having their inner ends projecting outwardly of the inner face of the low tile building units laid in courses, certain of said courses being vertically spaced and constituting furring courses, each furring course including a substantially continuous row of hollow tile building units, each unit being provided with a member projecting outwardly from the inner tile face of the body wall to form a furring ledge, simultaneously functioning as a fire and vermin stop, finish-securing means carried by the furring ledges and interior-finish held by said finish-securing means against the inner faces of said ledges and spanning the spaces between said ledges.

5. In a building wall construction, a wall body constructed from a plurality of brick-like elements provided with substantially continuous furring ledges projecting from and extending across the inner face of the body wall, the building elements forming said ledge being integral with and forming part of said wall body and extending transversely and substantially continuously therefrom, finish-securing means carried by the ledges, and interior-finish held by said means against the inner faces of said ledges and spanning the spaces between said ledges.

6. In a building wall construction, floor members, a wall body constructed from a plurality of brick-like elements provided with substantially continuous furring ledges projecting from and extending across the inner face of the body wall, the building elements forming said ledge being integral with and forming part of said wall body and extending transversely and substantially continuously therefrom, certain of said furring ledges being located closely adjacent and somewhat overhanging .the floor members to provide conduit-like receiving means, and an interior finish held against said ledges and spanning the spaces therebetween.

'7. In a building wall construction, floor members, a wall body constructed from a plurality of brick-like elements provided with substantially continuous furring ledges projecting from and extending across the inner face of the body wall, the building elements forming said ledge being integral with and forming part of said wall body and extending transversely and substantially continuously therefrom, certain of said furring ledges being located closely adjacent and somewhat overhanging the floor members to provide conduit-like receiving means, finish-securing means carried by the ledges and an interiorfinish held by said means against the inner faces of said ledges and spanning the spaces therebetween.. I

8. In a building wall construction, a wall body constructed from a plurality of brick-like elements provided with' substantially continuous furring ledges projecting from and extending across the inner faces of the body wall, the building elements forming said ledges being integral with and forming part of said wall body and extending transversely and substantially continuously therefrom, and an interior finish held against said ledges and spanning the spaces therebetween.

9. In a building wall construction, a wall formed of brick-like building units laid in courses,

certain of said courses being vertically spaced and constituting furring courses, at least some of said furring courses including a substantially furring courses, each furring course including a substantially continuous row of hollow tile building units, each unit being provided with a member projecting outwardly from the inner tile face of the body wall to form a furring ledge, simultaneously functioning as a fire and vermin stop,

and an interior-finish held against the inner faces of said ledges and spanning the spaces between said ledges.

JOSEPH ROSE. 

